Gophers football: Donnell Kirkwood has 1,000-yard season in sight

Teammates lift Minnesota running back Donnell Kirkwood in celebration after he scored a touchdown against Illinois last November. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Last year, Donnell Kirkwood came within 74 yards of becoming the University of Minnesota's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006. But the Gophers' junior tailback still has two years left to reach that mark.

When asked if he thought Kirkwood would get there this season, offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said, "Absolutely."

"I think that young man is a completely different football player and individual than when we first got here in a real, real good way," Limegrover said. "He's worked so hard at the football end of things -- getting his body in great shape, being ready and willing to withstand not just half a Big Ten season but an entire season."

The 5-foot-10, 220-pound Kirkwood, who was one of three players to represent the Gophers this week at Big Ten Media Day in Chicago, played in all 13 games last season as a redshirt sophomore. He led the team with 218 carries for 926 yards and six touchdowns.

Still, Kirkwood was critical of himself at spring practice this year.

"I wasn't the leader I should have been last year," he said in March. "I was kind of more focused on not messing up and not making mistakes. I'm past that. It's part of the game. But talk with coach Kill and (running backs coach Brian Anderson); I'm hard on myself."

Going into fall camp last season, Kirkwood questioned whether he could be the workhorse back Kill desperately needed.

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Quarterback MarQueis Gray, who has since used up his eligibility, had been asked to be the team's leading rusher in 2011.

Kirkwood struggled with leg and hamstring issues his first two seasons, taking a medical redshirt as a true freshman after appearing in four games in 2010. In his first full season, the Florida native had only 63 carries for 229 yards and three touchdowns in 2011.

But Kirkwood played behind senior Duane Bennett that season, Kill's first in Minnesota.

"He didn't realize it at the time, but he learned an awful lot from Duane Bennett," Limegrover said. "Duane is a kid that was very underrated in his leadership and willingness to play special teams, his willingness to be a guy who stepped up and blocked in pass protection. He wasn't your typical just give me the football and let me run guy.

"That's why he was a guy who had some opportunities in the NFL, because he was willing to do those things. That really rubbed off on Donnell."

Now, Kirkwood can pass on what he learned to younger players such as sophomore Rodrick Williams and freshman Berkley Edwards, who will compete this fall for carries behind Kirkwood.

Williams showed flashes as a freshman of being able to carry more of a load. He had 12 carries for a season-best 60 yards and a touchdown against Texas Tech in the Meineke Car Care Bowl loss in December.

Edwards, who was a state champion sprinter at Chelsea High School in Michigan last season, adds a different dynamic to the Gophers' backfield with his breakaway speed.

But Kill said Kirkwood is the type of "big" and "physical" runner that represents how the Gophers want to be offensively.

"I think if you go back through the history of not only where I've coached before but even with the Minnesota Gophers is that we've always had great running backs," Kill said. "(Kirkwood's) done a great job not only on the field, but he's done a great job with leadership with our younger players and has been a part of a group of kids that have really changed the culture and the character in our program."